The red-hot Boston Celtics were delivered a tough blow when it was revealed that young big man Robert Williams tore his meniscus. Williams will undergo surgery on his knee, but it's still unclear what kind of surgery he will get.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer says “there's no set timetable for Williams' return this season,” and a final decision will be made over the next week after more examination and consultation with Boston's medical staff. It will then be determined if the Celtics youngster will have a chance to return this season.

Based on a few tweets from Monday night, Williams seems to be in good spirits and could have been hinting that he will indeed be back in the playoffs:

https://twitter.com/rob_williamsIII/status/1508617815842033667

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Williams was also cheering on the shorthanded Celtics, who nearly beat the Toronto Raptors despite the absences of Williams, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston led late in the fourth quarter but lost in overtime to fall to 47-29. It snapped a six-game winning streak.

The loss of Williams is a tough one given his importance on both ends of the floor. He's an excellent rim protector, rebounder and lob threat while also showing some passing ability. However, Al Horford is having an excellent season, and the Celtics should have no problem downsizing. They also brought back Daniel Theis ahead of the trade deadline, so he will have to step up again for the club.

Even without Williams, Boston is looking like a powerhouse. But if the Celtics can get him back, that should only help them in their quest for a title.